Snap-movement-valve mechanism



C. F. BRAND. SNAP MOVEMENT VALVE MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE II, I918- RENEWED JUNE l9. l9l9.

Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

lNVENTOR J? W I ATTORNEY UNITE) STAWENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. BRAND, OF WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA.

SNAP-MOVEMENT-VALVE MECHANISM.

Application filed June 11, 1918, Serial No. 239,405.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. BRAND, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and resident of Wheeling, county of Ohio, and State of WVestVirginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SnapMovement Valve Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to valves, and more particularly to thattype of control valve which is opened and closed by a substantiallyinstantaneous, or snap, movement.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a valve mechanism ofrelatively simple and inexpensive construction adapted for associationwith and to be controlled by temperature regulators or thermostats ofcommon forms.

A further object is to provide a thermostatically controlled valvemechanism provided with means whereby it may be adjusted to any desireddegree of sensitiveness, adapting it for use under widely varying linepressures and conditions.

A still further object is to provide a valve control mechanism, designedprimarily for gas, steam, hot water and hot air supply lines, which isefficient and reliable in its operation and by means of which the valveis actuated to move from ts wholly closed position to wide-open positionwith an instantaneous, or snap, movement.

A further object within the contemplation of the invention is to providea valve mechanism of the character mentioned embodying an operatinglever adapted to be actuated from valve-closing to valve-openingposition by the diaphragm or movable member of a temperature regulatoror thermostat and which requires only a slight movement of suchactuating member to effect the relatively greater length of shift ingmovement required thereof.

In describing the invention in detail, reference is herein bad to theaccompanying drawing, of which the single figure is a side elevation ofthe invention.

WVhile it will be understood that the invention is readily applicable tovarious uses or purposes, it is especially adapted for use in' gas,steam, and hot-water heatingsysterns, and the explanation which followsSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 26, 1915).

Renewed June 19, 1919. Serial No. 305,397.

will be generally directed to a description thereof as applied to suchsystems.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates a valve body of a common typeadapted to be disposed in a gas, steam, hot-water, or other supply line.The shi'l'table valve member 2 is carried by the lower end of avertically disposed stem which has its upper end projected a suitabledistance above the usual packing gland Carried by and preferablyadjustable upon the projecting end of said valve-stem is a. head 5 whichis connected to a lever 6 by means of two connected pivoted links 7 and8 which in the normal position of the mechanism occupy positionssubstantially in alinement with said stem. The link 8 is pivoted to saidlever at a point in advance of the rear end of the latter, which end ispivoted to the upper end of a link 10 that has its opposite end pivotedupon the upright arm 9 of a yoke-shaped member 9. The yoke 9 is seatedin fixed position upon the top of the valve body 1 and has the upper endof its opposite upright arm 9* located a suitable distance below theoverhanging lever 6, as shown.

Pivotallv mounted intermediate its ends upon the arm 9* is a rockermember 11 which has its lower end disposed rearward of said arm andwhich has fixed thereto a rod or pin 12. Said pin projects forwardthrough a relatively large hole in said arm 9 and has threaded upon itsfree end an adjusting nut 13 between which and the opposing face of saidarm is a pin-encircling spiral spring 14. Connecting the upper end ofsaid rocker member 11 to the lever 6 at a point located a suitabledistance rearward of the center line of said arm 9 are two connectedpivoted links 15 and 16 which, in the closed position of the valve, arerelatively disposed at an angle slightly less than a right angle andwhich. in the open position of the valve, are disposed approximately inalinement.

A link 17 has one end pivoted upon the pivot pin 18 which serves toconnect the link 10 to the yoke arm 9 and has its opposite end pivotedupon the pivot pin 19 which connects the links 7 and 8.

As is obvious, the spring 14 when placed under tension by adjustment ofthe nut 13 exerts a force upon the rocker member 11 which tends tothrust the latter toward the dotted line position indicated in thedrawing in which the lower end of said member is seated against theadjacent face of the yoke arm 9. To assume such position the upper endof the rocker member must move rearward--a movement which is permittedeither when the links and 16 are relatively shifted toward the inclinedalined position indicated in dotted lines or when they are shifted fromright-angular relation toward the acute-angle position shown in fulllines in the drawing. Closing movement of said links in jack-knifefashion beyond said full line position is effectually prevented, due tothe fact that the lever 6 is supported against further downward movementby the substantially alined links 7 and 8 which are anchored by the link17 against forward swinging movement, and downward swinging movement ofthe forward end of said lever is prevented by the link 10 which connectsits rear end to the yoke arm 9*. Due to the acute-angled relation of thesaid links 15'and 16, no amount of force applied to the rocker member 11by the spring 14 or otherwise will serve to initiate movement of saidlinks in the opposite direction, or toward the approximately alined'relation necessary to be assumed thereby to permit said lever to reachthe limit of its elevation.

It follows, therefore, that an initial leveractuating force is requiredto effect opening of the valve. This force is supplied by the movablemember of a suitably located temperature regulator or thermostat (notshown) which is connected to the free end of the lever 6, as by asuspension chain 20..

A weight 21 is carried by the lever, the same being designed as acounterbalance which'overcomes the resistance to lowering movement ofsaid lever offered by the spring 14 when the sustaining force exerted bythe regulator or thermostat is removed or becomes practicallynegligible. The tension of said spring is preferably adjusted so that,when the lever occupies its elevated position, the force which it exertswill be slightly less than that which would be necessary to main- 7 tainsaid lever with said weight 21 in elevated position. Consequently, butslight force is required to be exerted by the regulator or thermostat toeffect the elevation of the movable parts of the device.

, To provide for the necessary shifting movements of the lever 6 with aminimum of movement of the regulator or thermostat, a novel form ofconnnection is had between said lever and itsweight 21. Said connectionconsists of an upright bar 22 interposed between the chain 20 and theweight 21, and a link 23 interposed between the end of said lever andsaid bar. Said link 23, which has one end pivotally connected to the endof said lever and its opposite end in like manner connected to said barat a point intermediate the ends of the latter, has its said endsbifurcated With said lever and said bar received in the bifurcationsthereof. The web 23 located between the bifurcations of said link hasthat wall thereof which faces the edge of the constantly vertical bar 22disposed at such an angle that, when the lever is in its loweredposition, its lower edge is abutted by said edge of the bar, and whenthe lever occupies its wholly elevated position, its upper edge isabutted by said bar. Thus, said link possesses at its front end only aslight range of movement as compared with that of the end of the leverto which its'rear end is attached, and, consequently, the verticaldistance through which the weight or counterbalance and its suspensionelements, including the movable member of the temperature regulator,must pass to effect the requisite shifting of said lever is relativelyshort, as is clearly illustrated in the drawing.

In practice, assuming that the valve and its hereinbefore-describedactuating parts occupy the normal closed positions shown in full linesin the drawing, when the temperature drops to a point below that towhich the regulator has been adjusted, a gradually elevating forceagainst the tension of the spring 14 is thereby applied through theinterposed parts to the lever 6. With initial elevating movement of itsfront end the lever swings rearward slightly, a movement which ispermitted by the pivotal connection therewith of the links 16, 8 and 10.Due to this rearward swinging, a lifting tension is not placed upon thevalve stem through the links 7 and 8 until an approximately half-waypoint in the movement of said lever is reached. When such approximatelyhalf-way point is reached by the lever, the links 15 and 16 have beenmoved against the tension of the spring 14 from their normal positionstoward alined position such a distance that their center of resistanceis passed, whereupon the spring exerts a force which instantaneouslyacts to thrust the parts from said half-way position to the extremelimit of elevation indicated in dotted lines in the drawing, carryingtherewith the member 2 of the valve, with an instantaneous, or snap,movement, from its fully seated valve-closing position to its wide-openposition.

.On the other hand, as the temperature rises above a predeterminedpoint, the tension placed upon the suspension chain by the regulatorgradually relaxes and the counterbalance weight actuates the lever. to

descend gradually against the resistance offered by the spring until, ata point where the center of resistance to closing movement of the links15 and 16 with respect to each other is reached, the spring supplementsthe counterbalance weight and the parts are thereby actuated to dropinstantaneously, or with a snap, to valve-closing position.

From the foregoing it will be understood that, once properly adjusted,the operation of the device is automatic throughout. Obviously, thespring tends to resist initial movement of the parts from either of thetwo limits of movement and facilitates final movement in bothdirections.

What is claimed is 1. A snap movement valve mechanism comprising a valvehaving a vertically movable stem, a yoke mounted on said valve, a rockermember pivoted upon one arm of said yoke, a lever having flexible linkconnection with said rocker member, a flexible link connection betweenthe rear end of said lever and the other arm of said yoke, a flexiblelink connection between said valve stem and said lever at a pointintermediate the first two above-mentioned link connections, and meansexerting a yielding force upon said rocker member whereby said lever isadapted to be held against movement from either of its opposite limitsfor maintaining said valve seated at said opposite limits.

2. A snap movement valve mechanism comprising a valve having avertically movable stem, a yoke mounted on said valve, a rocker memberpivoted upon one arm of said yoke, a lever having flexible linkconnection at a point intermediate its ends with said rocker member, aflexible link connection between the rear end of said lever and theother arm of said yoke, a flexible link connection between said valvestem and said lever at a point located rearward with respect to thefirst mentioned connection, and yieldable means resisting movement ofsaid lever from both of its opposite limits of movement.

3. A snap movement valve mechanism comprising a valve having avertically movable stem, a yoke mounted on said valve, a rocker memberpivoted upon one arm of said yoke, a lever having flexible linkconnection at a point intermediate its ends with said rocker member, aflexible link connection between the rear end of said lever and theother arm of said yoke a flexible link connection between said valvestem and said lever at a point located rearward with respect to thefirst mentioned connection, and yieldable means resisting initialmovement of said lever from both of its limits of movement andaccelerating final movement of said lever in both directions.

4. A snap movement valve mechanism comprising a valve having av'ertically'movable stem, a yoke disposed in fixed relation to saidvalve and having a rocker member pivoted to one arm thereof, a leverhaving pivotal relation with said rocker member through two pivotallyconnected links which at one limit of movement of said lever occupyapproximately alined relation and which at the opposite limit of saidmovement are disposed in acute-angled relation, a flexible connectionbetween the rear end of said lever and the opposite yoke arm, a flexibleconnection between said valve stem and said lever at a point locatedrearward of the said link connection, and a spring associated with saidrocker member, said spring acting to yieldingly resist initial movementof said connected links from both of their named positions and actingsubsequent to such initial movement to impart to said links a finalinstantaneous thrust whereby said valve is actuated to assume itsopposite extreme positions with a snap movement.

5. A snap valve mechanism comprising a valve having a vertical stem, ayoke mounted over said valve, a rocker member pivotally carried by onearm of said yoke, a weighted lever having flexible connection at itsrear end with the opposite arm of said yoke and having flexibleconnected-link connection at a point intermediate its ends with saidrocker member, a flexible connection between said valve stem and saidlever at a point between the first two above-mentioned connections, andmeans acting through said link connection upon said lever and tending toresist initial movement of the latter from both of its extreme positionsand to facilitate the final part of such movement.

6. A snap valve mechanism comprising a valve having a stem, a yokemounted over said valve, a rocker member pivotally carried by one arm ofsaid yoke, a weighted lever having flexible connection at its rear endwith the opposite arm of said yoke and having flexible connected-linkconnection at a point intermediate its ends with said rocker member, aflexible connection between said valve stem and said lever at a pointbetween the first two above-mentioned connections, means acting throughsaid link connection upon said lever and 'tending to resist movement ofthe latter from both of its extreme positions and to facilitate thefinal part of such movement, and means connected to said lever wherebyan initial elevating movement may be imparted to the latter.

7. A snap valve mechanism comprising a valve having a stem, a yokemounted over said valve, a rocker member pivotally carried by one arm ofsaid yoke, a lever having flexible connection at its rearend with theopposite ar'mot said yoke and having flexible connected'linkconnectionat a point intermediate its ends with said rocker memher, a flexibleconnection between said valve stem and said lever at a point between thefirst two above-mentioned conneetions,means flexible connection at itsrear end with the &

acting through said link connectiOn upon said lever and tending toresist movement of the latter from both of its extreme, positions and tofacilitate the final partof such movement, and a counterbalance weighthaving pivoted link connection with the front end of said lever. H i

V 8. A snap valve: mechanism comprising a valve having a stem, a yokemounted over said valve, a rocker member pivotally carried by one. armof said yoke, a leverhaving opposite, arm of said yoke and havingflexible connecteddink connectionata point intermediate its ends withsaid rocker member, a flexible connection between said valve stem,andxsai d lever at a point between the first two above-mentionedconnections, means acting through said link connection upon said leverand tending to resistmovement of the latter from both of its extremepositions and to facilitate the final part of such movement, acounterbalance. Weight includ ing an upright member, a link interposedbetween said upright member and the front end of said lever and havingpivotal con nection with both, said upright member Lewes having aportion adapted to engage and coact with a portion of said link wherebythe range of swinging movement of the latter with respect to saidupright member is limited.

9. In a snap movement valve mechanism, a, valve, a stem carried by saidvalve, a pivoted lever having pivoted connection at a point intermediateits ends with said stem, means connected to said lever tending to resist movement of the latter from both of its extreme positions andtofacilitate the final part of such movement, a vertically movablecounterbalance weight, and a link having pivotal connection at one endwith the free end of said lever and at the other with said weight, saidlink having a portion adapted to engage andcoact with'an adjacent por--tion of said Weight whereby the range of swinging movement'of the linkwithrespect to the latter is' limited. i

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in presence of twosubscribing witnesses,

" CHARLES E D.-

v Witnesses:

H. E. DUNLAP, L. W. CARR.

001 28 0!; this patent may be obtained for five. cents each byaddressing tne Commissioner of Patents Wes i tqq; 10 6-?

